Legislative Overview

In the state House, our coalition of supporters includes 25 democrats and 12 republicans (well over 1/3 of the entire house), and in the state Senate, our sponsorship coalition includes 6 republicans and 5 democrats. These elected officials have all signed on as sponsors of one or more bills in our UTU/SMART legislative agenda.

This year when the legislature was meeting in Olympia, we significantly expanded our legislative efforts.  At the request of UTU/SMART legislators introduced three major bills in Olympia with broad bi-partisan support:

• Rail Crew Transport Vehicle Safety Regulatory Legislation (HB 1620/SB 5720) – this bill is our # 1 priority, which would impose stringent state regulations over companies who contract with railroads to provide crew transport services.  It passed the house unanimously as well as three senate committees; it was just one step from final passage when one senator who objected to it blocked it from getting a final vote on the senate floor.  With your help we expect it to pass in law in 2014.
• A groundbreaking state Yardmasters Hours of Service Limits bill (HB 1621/ SB 5721)  – this bill passed out of the House Labor Committee and was on the house floor calendar when a calendar deadline prevented a full house vote.  We expect it to pass the house in the 2014 session.
• Wash. State Railroad operational and regulatory reform (SB 5722/HB 1845) – this bill has begun the discussion as to how the state currently regulates railroads – there are three state agencies plus twelve local governments that currently have a hand in railroad regulations and operations – we advocate that it should be consolidated into only one state agency as Oregon did in the 1990’s.  We will continue to pursue this critical rail regulatory consolidation.